The Portland daily press., 1887-08-04
OUR FISHERMEN BETRAYED.
The Real Meaning Of Admiral Luce's
Circular of Instruction.

The Real Meaning Of Admiral Luce's
i Circular of Instruction.
DingIey, Woodbury. and Spofford
Agree to Condemn II.
How Far Does the Naval officer
Represent the Administrator?
LEWISTON, Aug. "a despatch from
| Boothbay to the journal says that Judge
Charles Levi Woodbury. of Boston, and Hon.
| r. S. Spofford of Newburyport, arrived in
that harbor Tuesday. A correspondent met
both of these gentlemen who were engaged
in conversation with Congressman Dingley
on the fishery question, and especially ON the
views recently expressed by Admiral Luce,
| of the North Atlantic Squadron.
what is the substance Of these views"
was asked of Congressman DDgley.
sit seems from the despatch" replied Mr..
| Dingley ''that some Portland fishing mer-
| chants asked Admiral Luce, who is in COM
mand of the small fleet which our govern
ment has sent to the deep sea fishing grounds
of the Canadian coast, what our fishing YES
sells could expect from the Canadian author
| tiles. Admiral Luce sent a number Of in
| quiries to Capt. Scott, who commands one of
| the Dominion vessels set to watch American
fishing vessels, and Capt. Scott replied to
these inquiries stating the Canadian
| position, as it has so often 5een presented
that American fishing vessels have no right
to enter Canadian harbors or waters for any
purpose except shelter, repairs, Purchasing
wood and obtaining water. Thereupon Ad-
miral Luce caused Scotts reply to be printed
and distributed to American fishing vessels,
with the admonition, according to an inter-
view published in the Halifax papers, that
they must comply strictly with the treaty of
1918 as interpreted by Capt. Scott. and must
not expect any protection from us if they
choose to violate the Canadian laws enacted
to enforce the claims of the Canadians. The
admiral is represented as notifying our fish
ermen that they must not enter Canadian
harbors for any purpose except shelter, re-
pairs, purchasing wood and obtaining water,
and as informing them that if they enter
such harbors for any other purpose they must
not expect any protection from our people,"
what do you think of this position ?" IN
quired the correspondent.
Il have expressed my emphatic disapprov-
al of it already, and prefer you should ask
Judge Woodbury. and Mr.. Spofford, two well
known Democrats, who cannot be suspected
of any party prejudice, and who are perhaps
more familiar with the fishery question than
any other two gentlemen in the United
States.
Judge Woodbury. and Col. Spofford, who,
by the way, still preserve the keenness a nd
ability for W hich they have been distin-
guished for the many years in which they
been before the public, both kindly volun-
teered to give their views for publication.
Il am surprised" remarked Judge Wood
bury, "that Admiral Luce for whom have
high regard should have undertaken to de-
eide this fishery question, and to decide, too,
IN direct conflict with the position which has
been steadily. maintained by the American
government"
.'Just look at it." added Mr.. Spofford.
"The Admiral of the North Atlantic fleet,
presumably sent to the Canadian coast to
protect the rights of American fishermen,
accepts the dictum of a captain Of the Cana
dian coast guard, denying that we have any
rights, and solemnly warns our hardy fish
ermen that II they attempt to exercise the
privileges which our government has always
maintained as our rights, then they must not
expect any protection from our people. If
the Admiral has acted under instructions,
why did our government send any fleet to
Canadian waters. 1t would have been more
graceful to have backed down at the begin
ming. II he has not acted under instructions
ne should be called to a sharp account for
giving away our case so far as he could"
Wnat max IS the case more remarkable
stu, interJected Judge Woodbury., sis the
fact that not only have our State Depart
ment and Minister to England been carving
on very able eOrreSdence, clearly showing
that American fishing vessels have the right
to enter Canadian ports for the purchase of
supplies and the shipment of fish in bond,
etc, under. legislative arrangements with
Great Britain. but Congress at the last ses-
sion unanimously enacted law authorizing
the President, in case Canada denied these
privileges TO our fishing vessels, to issue a
proclamation withdrawing similar privileges
IN our ports from Canadian vessels, and pro-
hlbitlng the imDortaton into any collection
district OF the United States of such Canad-
an products as he might name. And yet, in
the lace OF the unanimous declaration of
congress, Admiral Luce, who is supposed to
represent our government, has practically
notlhed the American fishermen that they
nave no right to enter Canadian ports or
harbors to purchase supplies or ship fish in
BOND 70 the United States, ,and that if they
DO so they must not expect protection from
uo. u oudll D6 dSLOHlSDeu IL Tue auLuOrlLleS
at washington don't at once disavow the ut
terances OF the Admiral; for, if they en-
d0rSe them by their silence, it is a practical
surrender of our case'
why has no action been taken by the
administration under the so called retaliato-
~ act OF last spring?" inquired the corres-
pondent.
Il have felt like waiting for the end before
pronGuncing q judgment" replied Judge
Woodbury.. Certainly the Canadians have
constantly and persistently denied to Amer
lean fishing vessels all the season the rights
named in the act Of Congress, and have re-
peatedly officially declared their intention to
continue to do so. Yet similar privileges
are being granted in our ports every day to
Canadian vessels, and no step has been tax
en- TO carry out the expressed will Of Con-
gressS that the President should issue his
proclamation Withdrawing from Canadians
what they deny to u.s."
=. Il Imagine exclaimed Mr.Spofford, shat
II nothing is done by the administration be-
lore the meeting of Congress, there will be
some pretty sharp inquiries addressed to
somebody for this course"
lhere seems to be an impression in Ca
madam circles" remarked Mr.. Dingley, 'that
there Is no intention on the part Of the ad-
mlnlstratlon to carry out the policy of with
drawing from Canadian fishing vessels and
hshermen the privileges denied us, as adopt
cd by Congress. This impression is so firm
~ nxed In the Canadian mind that they seem
W et.nO ~ lOI granted IlaL Iney can re1uS6
privileges to our vessels without incurring
any danger of similar action from us, and
now comes Admiral Luce's announcement
that American fishermen must not expect in
Canadian ports the privileges freely accord
ed Canadian fishing vessels in our ports. 1t
is no wonder that our fishermen are growing
discouraged at the failure of our government
protect them. Deprived of the ordinary
privileges In Canadian ports accorded by
friendly nations, and overwhelmed with So
called Canadian fresh fish admitted duty free
into our markets, nothing but a firm faith on
their part that our government will not con-
sent to see great industry which is theinur-
sery of hardy seamen TO man our navy in
time of war, eXtinguished, encourages our
fishermen to struggle on
81 am sure that when Congress reassembles
next winter there will be a strong effort on
the part of many members to give our fish
ermen the protection they so well deserve"
Taking Back Water.
OTTAWA, Aug 3.--The deputy minister of
fisheries of the Dominion last night said that
an order had been issued by the government
releasing, on condition Of their paying a nom
inal fine, all American fishing schooners and
boats recently seized within the alleged pre-
scribed three mile limit. There is evidently
something in the wind and deyelonments to-